Telegram-herald., 1887-12-09
BLAINE OEcLEYELANOI
rHe MAINE NAN on TIE MESSAGE.
a Criticism an " whieh he Declares Cor aepeAl
Of the fobsees Tax saa kstsattsa Of
snsf os Wsol-soaaetaiax VI A6out
FoFoixa fsapsr Lseor.

NV Yokx. Dee s.-The Tstbaess this
morning prints aR ialery.sw. aboat tso col
anns ia length. with James g. Blaine it
was taken in shorthand by the papers
Paris correspondent Mr. Blaine said:
"For the hrs5 time in the history of the
UniIsd states ths President recommends
retaining the internal TAX in order that the
tsria may De forced down even below the
fair revenue standard He recommends
that the tax on tobacco be retained. and
thus that many millions annually shall be
levied on a domestic product which would
FAR better come from q tariff on foreign TAB
Tics."
do you mean 10 imply that you would
fsvo- the repeal OF the tobacco tax
'Cetainly." said Mr. Blaine, Il should
urge that II be done az once. IL would
bTias great relief To growers OF tobacco. and
would materially lessen the price of the
article TO consumers. Tobacco 10 millions
of men is a necessity. The only excuse for
such . tax is the actual necessity under
which the Government found ilself during
the war aud the years immediately follow
iEs. To retain TN tax now IN order 10 de
siroY the protection which would in
eidenlally dow from raising the same
amount OF money on foreign ifuports is GER
tainly most extraordinary policy for our
Government"
Would you advise the repeal of the
whisky tax alS0g'
"No; other considerations than those of
financial administration are TO be taken in
to account with regard TO whisky. There
Is a moral side TO il. whisky has done a
vast deal of harm in the United States. |
would try to make ii do some good.
would use the tax 10 fortify our cities on
the seaboard."
Besides your general opposition 10 the
Presidents recommendation, have you any
| further specific objection"
YES; should seriously object to the re-
| peal OF the duty on wool. To repeal that
would work great injustice to many inter
| ests. and would seriously discourage sheep
| culture throughout the Union"
DO you think if the Presidents recon-
menda.ion were adopted IL would increase
| our export trader"
Possibly IN some few articles of peculiar
| construction IL might but il would increase
osr import trade teniold as much in the
great staple fabrics. How are we TO export
staple fabrics unless we make them cheaper
| than IN Europe. and how are we 10 maui
iacture them cheaper unless We get cheaper
labor than in Europe?"
Then you think the question of labor
UnderLes the whole subiect?'
'"Of course it does" replied Mr.. Blaine.
1T is, in fact, the entire question. When
ever we can force carpenters, masons, iron
workers ard mechanics in every depart
ment 10 work as cbeaply and live rs poorly
In the United States as similar workmen in
Europe. We can, of course. manufacture
just rs cheaply as they do in England and
Francs. But | am totally opposed to a
policy that would entail such results"
Yes. bat might not the great farming
class be benefited by importing articles from
Europe instead of buying them at higher
prices nc homse
The moment" answered Mr.. Blaine.
You begin TO import freely from Europe
you drive our own workmen from mechan-
ical and manufacturing pursuits. In the
same proportion they become tillers of the
soil. That. of course, works grea, injury to
the farmer
Then do you mean to imply that there
should be no reduction of the national rev.
enue'"
mo; what have said implies the reverse.
would reduce it by a prompt repeal of the
tobacco tax and would make here and
there some changes in the tariff, not TO re
duce protection but to wisely foster IT,"